Chinese Sesame Balls

Step 1

First make your black sesame paste. Toast black sesame seeds for ~30 seconds until you smell a toasted, earthy aroma. Add the black sesame seeds to a spice grinder and pulse until you get a powder. Combine the black sesame powder and honey in a small bowl. Mix until a thick paste forms. Set aside.

Step 2

Next make your dough. Combine boiling water and light brown sugar in a small bowl. Mix until uniform.

Step 3

Add sweet rice flour to a separate bowl. Create a well in the center of the flour. Pour the sugar water into that well and mix. Once the dough starts to form, roll the dough out onto a floured surface. Add more flour or water as needed. Knead for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 8 even pieces.

Step 4

Now it's time to put it all together. Add white and black sesame seeds to a bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, add a 1-2 cups of water. Set aside.

Step 5

Take a piece of dough and roll it into a ball. Use your thumb to flatten out the ball into a 1/4 inch thick disc. Add 1 teaspoon of the black sesame paste to the center of the disc. Gather the edges of the disc and pinch together. Roll the dough between your hands to form a uniform ball. Dip the sesame ball into water and then coat with the sesame seed mixture. Repeat this process until you have 8 sesame balls.

Step 6

Heat vegetable oil to 300 degrees F. Make sure the oil is 2 inches deep. Fry each sesame ball for 10 minutes until the outside is golden. Use a candy thermometer to ensure your temperature stays consistent. Dry sesame balls on paper towels before serving.